Two-lamp lighting unit



1929.- R. w. ERSKINE 1,732,745

TWOLAMP LIGHTING UNIT Filed April 30. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES:

INVENTOR R5 0 11/. 5mm:

I BY

Oct. 22, 1929. R. w. ERskINE TWO-LAMP LIGHTING UNIT 2 Sheets-She s:

Filed April 30, 1927 Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH W. ERSKINE, F MISHAWAKA, INDIAIJA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- TRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A GORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA TWO-LAM]? LIGHTING UNIT Application filed April 30,

My invention relates to lighting fixtures and has particular reference to a suspended housing for a multiple-lamp lighting unit.

Devices embodying my invention are particularly suitable for use in directing and controlling navigation. I-leretotore, such devices or beacons have been dependent upon gas or oil as a source of illumination. Systems were devised wherein a flashing light was provided. Such systems have been developed to such degree that they are dependable. However, it has been found that, in certain kinds of service, such as barge canal navigation, electric lighting is readily available, and electric circuits may easily be utilized for furnishing the light for beacons for controlling navigation.

By reason ofthefiexi-bility o'felectrical sys tems, numerous advantages, results and devices not obtainable in the prior art are avail able. For example, reliable flashing devices may be utilized in electrically controlled apparatus. Circuits may be provided within the lighting unit such that an additional emergency lamp may lac-automatically lighted in case the service lamp fails.

Therefore, one of the objects of my invention is to provide a multiple-lamp lighting unit with means for connecting a lamp into the circuit if one lamp fails to function.

Another object 01" my invention is to pro vide a lighting unit having two or more lenses or globes so that combinations of difierently colored light beams can be produced.

Another object of my invention is to provide a unit having the light source so located ith reference to the lens that snow and ice will not collect on the lens.

Another object of my invention is to providea lighting unit, the glassware of which is assembled in a unit so that the unit assembly need not be dismantled in cleaning or adjusting the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a watertight housing of simple and sturdy construction.

Still further "objects of my invention will become apparent in the description of the construction and operation of my device.

My invention may best be understood by 1927. Serial N0. 187,764.

reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side view of my device in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my device,

Fig. 3 is a side view of my device partially in elevation and partially in cross section, the section being taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of my de vice taken along the line IV.1 V of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, mydevice comprises a unit globe or lens assembly 1 to which a canopy 2 and a lower cover 3 are fastened.

Reif'erring to Fig. 3, the upper globe or lens a and the lower globe or lens 5 are spaced apart by the center ring 6. The ring 6 is provided with a double faced flange which is adapted to coast with and receive the lower flange 11 of the upper lens 4 andthe upper flange 12 of the lower lens 5. The ring is also provided with openings 8 in the inner rim through which conduits are passed.

I prefer to utilize lenses of the Fresnel type. They are obtainable in various colors and in colorless glass, are well known to the art and'are not claimed as a part of my invention.

An upper clamping ring 13 having a double flange 14L is mounted on theupper flange l5 oi the upperlens l. Openings 16 are provided in the inner flange 21 and supporting lugs 22 are provided on the outer flange 14: of the ring. lVashers 25 and 26 on either side of the ring 13 are provided, one between the lens 4 and the ring 13, andthe other between the ring 13 and the flange 27 of the canopy 2.

A lower clamping ring 28 is mounted on the lower flange 31 of the lens 5. The lower clamping ring 28 is of the same construction as the upper ring 13 except that its parts are reversed. The lower clamping ring is provided with openings 32 and lugs 35 in the same manner as the upper rin Washers 38 are disposed on the ring 28 between the lens 5 and ring 28 and between the ring 28 and the flange ll of the lower cover 3.

The lower cover 3 is preferably an aluminum casting of bell shape provided with radially extending perforated lugs 42 for attaching the cover to the lens assembly and a lamp socket 45 in which is mounted lamp 46 secured to the cover by means of stud bolts 47.

The bell shaped canopy 2 which may also be termed the base is provided with equally spaced lugs 53 corresponding to the lugs 42 of the lower cover 3. Two diametrically situated projections 56 provide a bracket on the inside wall of the canopy 2 to which a socket support strap 58 is fastened; and a lamp socket 59, lamp 62 and a reactance coil 63 of a type well known to the art are mounted thereon. The reactanee coil is held in place on thesocket support strap 58 by means of strap 64 and bolts 65.

Openings 66 and 67 are provided in the upper surface of the canopy 2 and porcelain bushings 68 and 69 are fitted therein. Binding posts 71 are fitted over and engage the top portions of the porcelain bushings 68 and the binding posts are provided with the usual openings and screws 73 for engaging the lead wires.

' T The binding posts 71 and 72 and the porcelain bushings 68 and 69 are bolted to the casing 2 by means of stud bolts 74 and 75 which serve as conductors through the casing and are attached to the leads and 81. Insulating washers 76 and 77 are provided for insulating the stud bolts from the canopy, thereby preventing short circuits. The unit may be suspended from a ring 7 on the insulator bushing 9 which is mounted on the projections 10 of the canopy 2.

Leads 80 and 81 are connected to the three way connectors 82 and 83. Metallic rods 84 and 85 are screwed to the bottom of the three way connectors and are passed through the openings 16 of the upper clamping rmg 13,

. through openings 8 of the center ring 6 and the openings 32 of the low clamping rin 28, and the rods are insulated from the metal rings by means of bushings 87 and insulating tubes 88..

Two-way connectors 89 and 90 are secured by screws'to the lower ends of the rods and the lead wires 91 and 92 connect the connectors 89. and 90 with the lamp socket binding posts 93and 94.

The lead 95 connects the three way connector82 with one of the binding posts 96 of the upper lamp socket 59. The other binding post97- of the lamp socket 59 is connected to thefreactance coil- 63 by the lead 98. The opposite lead 99 of'the reactance coil is connected directly to the three way connector 83.

As shown in'Fig. 5, the lamp 62 is connected in series with the reactance coil 63 in the main line of a series circuit and the lamp 46 which is ,in parallel with the lamp 62 and coil 63 is also connected in the main series circuit. V

In-operation, only a small, current flows through lamp 62 when the lamp 46 is burning because of the impedance of the reactanee coil 63. If the lamp 46 is extinguished by reason of filament failure or breakage, the voltage between points 82 and 83 will build up to a value such that the lamp 62 will light. This device provides a factor of safety in that lamp 62 will be lighted if lamp 46 burns out.

The unit is assembled by passing the rods 52 through the lugs 35 of the lower clamping ring 28 and through the lugs 42 of the lower cover 3. The upper ends of the rods are passed through the openings of the upper clamping ring 13.

When nuts 54 are screwed down the lower clamping ring 28 and the upper clamping ring 13 are drawn together; thus clamping lens 5, center ring 6, and lens 4 together to form a unitary structure termed the lens assembly 1.

The lens assembly 1 is then held in position on the canopy 2 and the rods 52 passed through the lugs 53 and secured by nuts 55. The lower cover is then fastened in place by nuts 48 thus clamping the lens assembly 1 between the canopy 2 and the lower cover. Thus, the lower cover may be removed without disturbing the rest of the unit and the unitary lens assembly may be removed intact for cleaning and adjustment. As resilient washers are provided at all joints, a waterproof structure is obtained and breakage of the glassware is minimized.

My invention provides a device in which the lamps can be mounted in close proximity to the lenses so that when the unit is in opera tion and is subjected to winter conditions, snow and ice will not collect on the lenses. The unit is simply and sturdily constructed and provides the reliability necessary in a beacon.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto since various modifications may be made. For example, the reactance coil 63 may be eliminated, both lamps may be lighted at the same time, and various combinations of colored lens may be utilized for providing a varicolored beam for indicating data as to navigating conditions. Still another modification may consist in utilizing a film cutout socket 0f the type well known in the art instead of the socket 59, thereby providing a film cutout instead of the reactance coil shown in Fig. 5. Still other modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lighting unit comprising a plurality of globes mounted one above another, means for fastening the globes together to form a globe assembly, a canopy having a lamp socket mounted therein, a cover having another lamp socket mounted therein, and means for clamping the canopy, globe assembly and lower cover together, said means comprising a plurality of rods engaging said canopy, globe assembly and lower cover.

2. In a lighting unit, in combination, a globe assembly comprising two coaxial globes, an intermediate ring, an upper end ring and a lower end ring and rods engaging the end rings for holding the globes and rings in proper operative positions, a canopy engaging the upper end ring, a cover engaging the lower ring, a lamp socket and a lamp sup ported respectively by the canopy and the cover, and means cooperating with the rods for clamping the canopy and cover against the respective end rings.

3. In a lighting unit, in combination, a globe assembly comprising two coaxial globes, an intermediate ring, an upper end ring and a lower end ring and a plurality of rods extending through and beyond the end rings and engaging means thereon to engage the end rings for holding the globes and rings in proper operative positions, a canopy and a cover engaging the upper and the lower end rings respectively, lamps and lamp sockets supported by the canopy and the cover respectively, openings in the canopy and cover for receiving the rods and means on the rods at each end thereof to clamp the canopy and cover against the globe assembly to permit removal of the canopy and cover and the associated lamps from the globe assembly.

4:. In a lighting unit having a plurality of globes disposed one above another and a top and bottom ring disposed on the upper globe and beneath the lower globe, respectively, to provide a globe assembly, combined means for clamping the globes together and for conducting electric current through the interior i the globe assembly, comprising insulated rods operatively engaged to the top and bottom rings and electrical connections on the ends thereof.

5. In a lighting unit comprising a globe, a cover, a base, and a light source disposed in the cover, means for conducting electric current to the light source and for clamping the cover and globe to the base comprising insulated rods operatively attached to the canopy and base having electrically conducting connecting means at the ends thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd day of April,

RALPH W. ERSKINE. 

